the bold and almost peerless assumptions of haughty ecclesiastics and lordly pontiffs, is almost morbidly sensitive about the discharge of the necessary duties of the senate or eldership of a Christian congregation, lest they should become lords over God's heritage, rather than the humble servants of his people. It is evident from Peter's saying that the bishops should not be "lords over God's heritage," nor take the oversight of the flock "for the sake of filthy lucre," that both power and emolument were anciently attached to the office, so that the temptation to lordly power and filthy lucre was an accompaniment of it. Now whenever we divest the office of this temptation we have got a new office unknown to Peter. Whenever a congregation says the elders shall have no chance of loving power or filthy lucre because of its having lopped off these appendages from their office, it has become wiser than Paul, more ingenious than Peter, and, I fear, more prudent than the Founder of the Christian Institution. So long as the whole diocess of a plurality of elders is but one single congregation, I do not think we should be so much alarmed at the power of their office as to manacle and fetter them by any bye-laws of our own invention: for in so doing there is even yet some danger of the sin of Korah, Dathan, and Abiram—at least in the opinion of the Apostle Jude. A. C. P.S. A second communication from R. L. has been received, and shall be attended to in our next. A. C. QUERIES ANSWERED. The following Queries were proposed in our last: 1. "WHETHER hai we better, to save from the error of their way, treat as aliens, all unbaptized persons, or acknowledge them as worshippers of the true God, and as a kind of half-way Christians?"-M. W Jan. 1838. 2. "Ought Christians to pray with any with whom they would not commune in all religious or Christian instititutions?"-Dr. J. 3. "What is a church to do when its Elders leave them on the Lord's day and go to other meetings among the sects?"-Mrs. T. Answer to Query 1st.-We have no half-way Christians in fact, though we have many in practice. If turning away from a professor ignorant and prejudiced, or if telling him that we regarded him as no better than a heathen man or a publican, and would neither sing, nor pray, nor worship God in his presence, would propitiate his ears and give us access to his heart, and tend to his illumination, one might hazard it; but such a course only obtains for him that does it unqualified reprobation as a proud self-righteous Pharisee, and forever nullifies his efforts to gain a favorable audience-without which he can do nothing. Besides, we are to treat all men with respect, and give them full credit for all they possess, and without flattering them into a system of self-deception; like Paul, we should to the Jew become a Jew, and to the Greek become a Greek: yea, become all things to all men, without conceding the truth, that we might gain men to Christ. There are many good men, of large intelligence, possessed of many Christian virtues, who are not immersed; and who, though not constitutional citizens of his kingdom, would lay down their lives for Christ. These ought to have credit for all they possess; and as Priscilla and Aquila took Apollos (who, though an eloquent man and mighty in the scriptures, knew only the baptism of John,) and instructed him better; so ought we when such persons come in our way. Now many excellent persons there are in our day standing to the kingdom of Jesus just as Apollos stood before he heard these gifted disciples teach the way of the Lord more perfectly. Answer to Query 2d.-Christians may pray with all persons who wish to pray through the Mediator; and none else will ask them to pray. Prayer is not a Christian institution any more than singing psalms. They prayed and sang praises under all dispensations.But they did not observe any of the peculiar institutions of Christ's kingdom in the first or second ages of the world. Now as Christians, we can only commune with Christians in Christian institutions; but as religious men, we may perform any act of religion with religious men that is common to all dispensations. Hence both Jesus and Paul prayed and gave thanks in the promiscuous companies which flocked around them without asking any questions for conscience sake, John iv. 22., Acts xxi. 6., 1 Tim. ii. 8., John xi. 41, 42., John xii. 27-28. We are indeed under obligations to pray "for all men," and to "pray every where," "with all prayer and supplication;" and as our Lord addressed his Father in the presence of the thousands whom he fed and to whom he preached, and prayed even for his enemies; surely so ought we do as his disciples and followers! Answer to Query 3d.-Appoint new Elders. Whenever the shepherds abandon their flocks, it is high time they were put into other hands. I do not know how such persons can watch for the souls of their flock, or give a good account of themselves when the King of kings comes. The 4th Question, for want of room, and because of extensive bearings, is laid over. News from the Churches. A. C. CINCINNATI, February 28, 1838. My dear Brother, I HAVE been residing in this city with my family since November last, and have been constantly engaged in building up the cause of Christ in this place, and not without some encouraging success. Some fourteen or fifteen, notwithstanding the inclemency of the winter months, have obeyed the Lord; and some twenty or thirty have united with us from different congregations Our prospects as a congregation are good, and in many respects improving; so that in the course of time she will exert a happy influence over these parts, as I think, on an extensive scale. It is our design to sound out the word of the Lord from the Sycamore congregation to all around us. This has been done already in part, and we wish that it may be effected on a much larger scale. Already a colony of disciples, before I came here, has been formed over the river, two miles below the city, by the labors of some of the brethren. We have also made a stand up the river, on this side, at Fulton, in the suburbs of the city, and are making arrangements to call the people out on the first day in the neighborhood of brother Daniel Gano's, and also in the lower end of the city, just below the Roman Catholic establishment. I am also engaged in delivering a course of lectures in George street, in the upper room of a large engine house, which has been well attended, and from which some fruit has been reaped. We are desirous to consecrate all the available talent and influence of the congregation to the promotion of the common cause; and if the brethren will be actuated by a patient, zealous, and cou rageous spirit, they, under the blessing of God, will accomplish much for the Lord; and by fonstant exercise of their speaking gifts will not fail of making themselves useful and profitable laborers in the vineyard of the Lord. JAMES CHALLEN. ADAMSVILLE, Ten. February 7, 1838. On the first Lord's day in January. I immersed one; on Monday after the second Lord's day in the same mouth six others were immersed-naking in all seven who have been immersed into Christ since I last wrote you. The congregation in this vicinity is doing well, and the brethren and sisters are punctual in their attendance at the Lord's house on the first day of every week to celebrate the supper of the Lord.I have labored in this country for almost four years, having no help of consequence, except the transient brethren who sometimes call with us.I have abundant reasons to thank, praise, and give glory to God for his blessings, and especially for the help and support I find in brother Andrews and our older brother John Kendrick, who also labors in the word and teaching. J. H. DUNN. ADAMSVILLE, Ten., February 12, 1838. We have had another meeting since I wrote you; at the close of which ten persons were added to the church, including six of those mentioned in my letter of the 7th instant. We number near sixty at this time-all in peace and love-bearing one anothers burthens, and so fulfilling the law of Christ. I have travelled through various parts of this state and Kentucky, and must say, that I never have seen a congregation exhibit more unanimity and gospel order. J. H. DUNN. Dear brother Campbell, NORTH MIDDLETOWN, Ky., February 26, 1838. We have had the most interesting meeting at this place that was ever witnessed in the Western Country. The meeting continued for fourteen days, during which time one hundred and eighty-three made the good confession that "Jesus was the Messiah the Son of God," and were immersed into his name for the remission of sins. Among the number there were a few from the Baptists Methodists, and Presbyterians. Perhaps on no occasion was the power of the truth more manifested than on this. The most intense interest was exhibited by all classes of society from the commencement of the meeting to the close, which was on this day, when twelve came forward and made the good confession; and we have but little doubt, had it been practicable to have continued the meeting for a week longer, that as many more would have been added to the congrega. tion. Our beloved brother John T. Johnson was the principal speaker, assisted by brothers Raines, J. Irvine, Hatch, and W. Parker. Glory to God in the highest heavens! Peace on earth, good will to men! Praised be his name forever and ever! I can never be thankful enough to my heavenly Father for his goodness and mercies to me individually, and especially so for the conversion of three of my dear children during the meeting. N. L. LINDSAY. NEW YORK, 24th February, 1838. Dear brother Campbell, BELIEVING it will be gratifying to you and others of the friends of the Redeemer, to hear from the congregation of disciples in this city, I send you this for publication, if you think proper. You will recollect that when you were with us in the Summer of 1836, it was almost in the beginning of our existence as a worshipping congregation. Our beginning was indeed small, and the circumstances that surrounded us were in many respects evil. In addition to the prejudices existing among the various religious sects against us, we had no convenient place for worship, except at a great expense; but the Lord has hitherto helped us, and through the kindness of our dear brother Dr. E Parmele we have a convenient place for meeting in, which is a bath, so that we are prepared to baptize forthwith those who are disposed to confess the Lord Jesus We can say of brother Parmele as the elders of the Jews said of the Centurion-'He loveth our nation, and he hath built us a synagogue.' Of late it has seemed good to the brethren to make an extra exertion for the spread of the gospel among us. We have been laboring for this purpose publicly every evening for two weeks past. Our labors have not been in vain-fifteen persons have united with us within three weeks, the most of whom I have had the pleasure of immersing; and what to me is very singular, among the number is one young man deaf and dumb. He bids fair to become an intelligent disciple of the Saviour. We number at this time about one hundred. We are well united in the truth, and the prospect of the spread of the gospel brightens daily.— We wish our brethren, especially those who proclaim the word, to remember us, and when it is possible visit us and aid us in endeavoring to spread the truth in this city. PORTER THOMAS. N. B. Our meeting-house is No. 80, Green street, near Spring. Dear brother Campbell, P. T. GEORGETOWN, Ky., February 28, 1838. I returned last evening from a three weeks' siege at Millersburg and North Middletown. On the 8th I reached Millersburg, and remained there till the Monday evening following. Our opponents are so malignant that we gained but three additions to our former numbers. Brother Hatch, the College Agent, accompanied me to brother Wilson's near Cave Ridge and North Middletown on Monday night, where brother G. T. Harvey had an appointment; and after an excellent discourse, five confessed the Lord that night. Next morning we proceeded through the rain to an appointment of mine at North Middletown; and brother Harvey spoke, as he was then to leave for his home in Indiana, where he now resides. He made a discourse of a very superior order. I then commenced operations next day with brother Hatch, a fine exhorter, and speaker likewise if he could be persuaded to think so; and we remained there until day before yesterday. We reaped a most glorious barvest, notwithstanding the cold, snowy weather. We kept up the immersion every day after we started, and gained 184 accessions to the cause of our Lord! O, it was a season of rejoicing every day and night! For I had to speak day and night, with the exception of five speeches from other brethren, one of whom was brother John Smith, whose business called him off. The very last meeting we had 12 confessed and 22 were immersed. But my voice was shattered and I wanted to see my family; so I returned home. Within less than three months the accounts stand thus:-Nicholasville, 110; George Town, 65; Paris, 120; Millersburg, 40; North Middletowu, 184; and May's Lick, (meeting on hand,) 44 the last account. Much tall timber was fallen at North Middletown, and fathers, mothers, sons, daughters, and servants were made to rejoice together with exceed. ing joy. J. T. JOHNSON. [The Lord be exalted for these glorious fruits of the gospel! What thanks are due to him from all his saints for these trophies of his grace! How honorable to be the instru ment of such a work! How inferior the glory of the Hon. Richard M. Johnson, VicePresident of this great nation, compared with his brother the humble servant of Jesus Christ, the most successful proclaimer of the gospel in the great valley of the Mississippi.] A. C. We are happy to learn that the good cause we plead is steadily advancing. It is gaining a little in the cities of New York, Philadelphia, Baltimore, and Richmond, and the Western cities generally; but in the country it advances much more rapidly. We flatter ourselves that it is about to spread more extensively in the South. Still the brethren have it in their power instrumentally to send it throughout the land much more speedily and successfully. If they were only as wise as the children of this world in conducting their affairs, and as wholly absorbed in the politics of Christ's kingdom as the American politicians in the affairs of our ephemeral statistics-if they were as warm partizans of Jesus Christ as the multitude were and are of Gen. Jackson and his measures, how the word of the Lord would run and be glorified hroughout the length and breadth of the land! A. C. THE MILLENNIAL HARBINGER, NEW SERIES. VOLUME II. -NUMBER V. BETHANY, VA. MAY, 1838. MORALITY OF CHRISTIANS—No. V. ALL that we now call morality is in the New Testament called righteousness, Righteousness is indeed a generic term, which sometimes comprehends both religious and moral precepts. But in contrast with holiness it specifically imports morality. To "serve God in holiness and righteousness," or to "live righteously and godly," is, in our present popular style, to live religiously and morally. The terms moral and morality are not once found in King James' Bible. For them we have always the words righteous and righteousness. A righteous man is a moral man, and a holy or godly man is a religious man. Our Lord, in the Sermon on the Mount, uses the word righteousness in this sense; for when commenting on the moral precepts of the second table, he says to his disciples, "Unless your righteousness excel the righteousness of the Scribes and Pharisees, you shall never enter the kingdom of heaven." Some of our modern system-builders have a very convenient way of disposing of such passages by assuming that "the imputed righteousness of Christ" is here spoken of under the title of our righteousness! This indeed very handsomely blunts the point of all such warnings and admonitions, and turns away the attention of professors from feeling the importance of being righteous as well as holy. I have said that the word righteous sometimes includes all our duties to God and to man; but that it often, as in Matth. v. 20., chiefly relates to what we call morality; and that all that we now call moral, and morality, is certainly, in the Jewish and Christian style, called righte ousness. Having before distributed this righteousness into three chapters, and having written four essays upon the first, and intending to complete our |